Raiders place DJ Hayden on PUP list

Any hope the Raiders had of their 2013 first-round draft choice stepping up and seizing a starting role in his second season appeared dashed when it was revealed Hayden had surgery related to a stress fracture in his right foot more than a month ago.

"I wish I had a time frame; I really don't know what it's going to be," Raiders coach Dennis Allen told a small group of reporters over lunch Thursday. "It's disappointing for him and for me, because he's a guy we were counting on being able to step up and help us this year, and he's a young player and he needs the reps."

Hayden will open camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list (PUP), with 49ers imports Carlos Rogers and Tarell Brown as the starting cornerbacks. Being physically unable to perform has typified Hayden's short career with the Raiders since he was the 12th pick of the draft.

Rogers will play inside against the slot receiver against the nickel, opening up an outside corner spot for veteran Chimdi Chekwa and rookie sixth-round pick TJ Carrie out of De La Salle High.

There were raised eyebrows when the Raiders selected Hayden in the first place, given trauma surgery in November of 2012 to repair a blood vessel leading to his heart. During Hayden's first set of OTAs, he needed surgery to remove scar tissue related to the first surgery, slowing his development.

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Hayden spent most of his rookie camp in a red jersey, signifying no contact. He also sustained a slight hamstring pull, missing some workouts. Hayden ended up playing in eight games before sitting out the second half of the season for surgery to repair a sports hernia.

Hayden finished with one interception, stealing a pass in the end zone to seal a 27-17 Week 5 win over the San Diego Chargers.

The most recent injury occurred when Hayden rolled an ankle during the first organized team activity. Allen said an MRI showed "nothing of significance."

The day before the injury, Hayden met with the media to talk about his progress. Allen described him as "light years ahead" of where he was as a rookie.

When the foot was slow to heal, a second MRI revealed a stress fracture that required surgery, which was performed at some point near the end of the mandatory minicamp that concluded June 19.

"He's a young player, and these young guys, they need the reps, they need the work," Allen said. "Is it a setback? Yeah, it's a setback. Is it something that's going to keep him from being able to contribute this year? I certainly hope not. That will be determined by how fast he's able to recover."

Allen said Hayden was out of a protective boot. He said recovery from the surgery could be as little as four weeks but as much as eight weeks.

"I think he's frustrated, but I don't think he's in any state of despair or anything like that," Allen said. "I think he understands he's got another challenge he's got to try to overcome and the road that he has ahead of him, and he's been working to try and get back. The kid wants to be out there. He wants to play."

Other players who will open camp on PUP are tight end Nick Kasa (hip flexor), guard Lucas Nix (knee) and possibly cornerback Usama Young (quad) and rookie cornerback Keith McGill (ankle). Young and McGill were injured during Thursday's conditioning tests.

Defensive tackles C.J. Wilson (hamstring) and Stacy McGee (thumb) were hurt while training away from the team and will begin on the non-football related injury list.

Kevin Burnett, a starting outside linebacker last season, was released. Allen said he feels good about the depth at the position, with Miles Burris and Sio Moore at weakside linebacker and Kaluka Maiava available at all three spots to go along with strongside starter Khalil Mack and middle linebacker Nick Roach.